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Phytophthora cinnamomi and P. cactorum were detected in soil samples from a Vaccinium corymbosum stand in southern Germany. Both species were virulent in an underbark inoculation assay and have not been reported from highbush blueberry in Germany before. While P. cactorum is a widely distributed species in nurseries and (semi)natural habitats like forests, field reports of P. cinnamomi in Germany are rare due to its sensitivity to frost. Its occurrence in an outdoor blueberry stand indicates its potential to survive Central European winter periods that tend to be increasingly mild. Phytophthora cinnamomi was also found in the substrate of young V. corymbosum nursery plants, suggesting a high degree of contamination in commercial blueberry production and demonstrating the risk of spreading exotic invasive plant pathogens via planting of infested nursery stock.

Roots, collars and rhizosphere soils from diseased boxwood saplings (Buxus sempervirens) from German and Romanian nurseries were shown to be colonized by a Phytophthora species (P. taxon Buxus) closely resembling the recently described species P. himalsilva. After comparison of both taxa using morphological, phylogenetic and pathogenicity data the high similarity between P. taxon Buxus and P. himalsilva was confirmed. No differentiation was found regarding growth patterns, morphological characters and breeding behaviour. In pathogenicity tests with boxwood twigs, leaves and root collars, both the isolates from boxwood and P. himalsilva proved to be highly aggressive towards this host. Although some of the phylogenetic markers used showed some degree of differentiation, others did not provide evidence for a radiation of two taxa. While based on ITS, β-tubulin and ypt gene sequences P. taxon Buxus could not be clearly distinguished from P. himalsilva, the cox1 gene sequences did separate the strains from P. himalsilva and placed them more closely to P. citrophthora. Since P. himalsilva was reported to be a highly variable species, a definite decision on the taxonomic status of the isolates described here cannot be made yet. More importantly, our findings highlight the increasing importance of exotic pathogens causing plant diseases in commercially important plants, especially in nurseries. As the phylogenetic positioning of the box isolates indicated that they may belong to a group of species potentially endemic to Asia, the Phytophthora taxa involved in this disease might represent another important threat to European boxwoods with an exotic origin.

Rhizoctonia solani AG2-2IIIB is the causal agent of late crown and root rot in sugar beet. In a 4-year field study we analyzed the impact of different plant residue management systems of sugar beet and maize as well as of growing wheat (non-host) and different maize varieties on the soil inoculum density of R. solani. Sugar beet remains were either tilled or removed from the field; maize was then grown during the two following years and also tilled or removed. The soil inoculum potential of R. solani was studied using three different on- and off-site monitoring systems. A monthly assessment of root damage indices of maize and sugar beet and broad bean as an indicator plant was carried out. In addition, an indirect quantitative real-time PCR assay using quinoa seed baits was developed to analyze field soil samples for R. solani AG2-2 soil concentration at the end of each year. The results show that the non-host wheat as a pre-crop to sugar beet reduced the Rhizoctonia inoculum potential in the soil significantly. Additionally, the incorporation of host plant debris (sugar beet + maize) into the soil increased the Rhizoctonia soil inoculum potential and the incidence of sugar beet rot. Although the maize genotypes’ susceptibility to R. solani differed, their plant debris did not significantly influence growth and survival of R. solani in the soil. This work describes methods that allow elucidating the effect of agricultural practice on Rhizoctonia levels in the soil and on disease development in the field.

The term ‘girth scab’ describes a chronic disease of sugar beet roots (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris) for which the causes still remain unclear. While pathogenicity of the oomycete Aphanomyces cochlioides to sugar beet has been known for a long time, most practical guides and other professional literature refer to actinobacteria as the causal agents. In this study, we try to provide some clarification of the aetiology of this disease by studying affected sugar beets from different regions in Bavaria, with a focus on the involvement of A. cochlioides and other soilborne oomycetes. In parallel, the samples were investigated for the presence of actinobacteria. A. cochlioides and several Pythium spp. were isolated from the samples in both 2010 and 2011, among these P. recalcitrans, P. intermedium and P. sylvaticum. In a soil infestation test, A. cochlioides in particular proved to be highly aggressive to young beet plants, causing severe symptoms of ‘girth scab’, and a significant biomass reduction. P. recalcitrans also caused mild scab, while the other species led to biomass reduction only. Bacteriological studies showed that Streptomyces spp. found on some samples were most likely non-pathogenic strains that were not primarily involved in the disease. Our results show that A. cochlioides rather than actinobacteria is most probably the causal agent of the ‘girth scab‘ disease. The wet weather conditions and the massive occurrence in 2010 make the contribution of this moisture-associated oomycete most plausible. The role of several Pythium spp. that caused similar symptoms remains to be clarified.

Since its first isolation from Salix roots in 1972, isolates of a sexually sterile Phytophthora species have been obtained frequently from wet or riparian habitats worldwide and have also been isolated from roots of Alnus and Prunus spp. Although originally assigned to Phytophthora gonapodyides on morphological grounds, it was recognized that these isolates, informally named P. taxon Salixsoil, might represent a separate lineage within ITS Clade 6. Based on phylogenetic analyses and comparisons of morphology, growth-temperature relationships and pathogenicity, this taxon is formally described here as Phytophthora lacustris sp. nov. Isolates of P. lacustris form a clearly resolved cluster in both ITS and mitochondrial cox1 phylogenies, basal to most other Clade 6 taxa. Phytophthora lacustris shares several unusual behavioural properties with other aquatic Clade 6 species, such as sexual sterility and tolerance of high temperatures, that have been suggested as adaptations to riparian conditions. It appears to be widespread in Europe and has also been detected in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. Itwas shown to be weakly or moderately aggressive on inoculation to Alnus, Prunus and Salix. The extent of P. lacustris’ activity as a saprotroph in plant debris in water and as an opportunistic pathogen in riparian habitats needs further investigation. Its pathogenic potential to cultivated fruit trees also deserves attention because P. lacustris has apparently been introduced into the nursery trade.

An unnamed ITS clade 6 Phytophthora was frequently isolated from rhizosphere soil of reed (Phragmites australis) growing on the littoral zone of Lake Constance. The isolates closely resembled P. gonapodyides, having internally proliferating, non-papillate sporangia, a rather high temperature optimum for growth (30 � C), and being sexually sterile. ITS sequence analysis revealed that they were identical to the as yet unnamed Phytophthora taxon Salixsoil, originally isolated from Salix roots in the UK and Alnus debris in Denmark. The taxon was readily isolated from permanently as well as occasionally flooded reed sites using standard baiting procedures, indicating a wide distribution in the Lake Constance littoral zone. In an in vitro leaf inoculation assay P. taxon Salixsoil proved to be more aggressive towards Salix alba than P. gonapodyides. The new taxon may be of significance as a root pathogen of woody plants in moist or flooded situations occurring in alluvial forest/plant communities. We propose that due to its close resemblance to P. gonapodyides the taxon might have passed unnoticed in the past, and possibly is much more widely distributed than previously recognised.

In several studies of oak decline in Europe, a semi-papillate homothallic Phytophthora taxon was consistently isolated, together with other Phytophthora species, from rhizosphere soil samples. It was also found associated with necrotic fine roots and stem necroses of Fagus sylvatica and Alnus glutinosa. Due to morphological and physiological similarities, the semi-papillate isolates were previously identified as P. syringae by various authors. The morphology, physiology and pathogenicity against fine roots of Quercus robur, Q. petraea and F. sylvatica, bark of A. glutinosa, leaves of Ilex aquifolium and apple fruits of this Phytophthora species are described and compared with those of related and similar Phytophthora species, namely P. ilicis, P. psychrophila, P. quercina, P. citricola and P. syringae. The phylogenetic placement on the basis of ITS and mtDNA sequence data was also examined. Isolates of this taxon produce colonies with stellate to rosaceous growth patterns and limited aerial mycelium on various agar media. Antheridia are predominantly paragynous. In water culture catenulate hyphal swellings and semi-papillate caducous sporangia, that are usually limoniform, ellipsoid or ovoid, are formed abundandly, mostly in lax or dense sympodia. This taxon is a moderately slow growing, low temperature species with optimum and maximum temperatures around 20 and 25 degrees C, respectively. Tested isolates are moderately aggressive to fine roots of oaks and beech, highly aggressive to holly leaves and apple fruits, and slightly pathogenic to alder bark. Thirteen tested isolates had an identical and distinct ITS sequence which was more similar to that of P. ilicis and P. psychrophila than any other known taxa. On the basis of their unique combination of morphological characters, colony growth patterns, cardinal temperatures for growth, growth rates, pathogenicity to oaks, beech, alder, apple and holly, their host range, and ITS and mtDNA sequences the semi-papillate caducous Phytophthora isolates from oaks, beech and alder are clearly separated from related and similar Phytophthora spp., and described as a new species, P. pseudosyringae sp. nov.

A comparison of oomycete diversity in reed stands (Phragmites australis) of Lake Constance, Germany, and maize fields close by provided evidence for the occurrence of natural hybridization between Pythium phragmitis, a newly described reed pathogen, and an as-yet unknownPythiumspecies closely related to P. phragmitis and P. arrhenomanes. Internal transcribed spacer and ß-tubulin sequences of a large set of Pythium isolates from reeds showed dimorphic signals at several positions, indicative of a mixture of characters of two parent species. Involvement of P. phragmitis in the putative hybrid species was confirmed after cloning and sequencing of ITS regions and ß-tubulin genes of the hybrid isolates. Mitochondrially inherited coxII gene sequences did not show dimorphic sites and suggested that the hybridization event was relatively ancient, or that other species might be involved. Intermediate habitat preferences, morphological characters and aggressiveness towards reeds and other grasses confirmed the suggestion that these isolates comprise a natural hybrid between two Pythium species.Pythium arrhenomanes, likely to be involved in the putative hybrid s evolution, wasrepeatedly isolated from maize fields adjacent to P. phragmitis-infested reed stands. The interface between natural habitats with established oomycete communities and agricultural fields with potentially introduced pathogens might constitute an evolutionary hot-spot giving rise to new species with as-yet unknown host ranges. As indicated by inoculation tests, the hybrid was significantly more pathogenic towards reed rhizomes thanP. phragmitis, which caused no damage to these organs. This is apparently the first report of the occurrence of natural hybridization in Pythium.

A non-papillate, slow-growing Phytophthora species, which could not be assigned to any existing taxon, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of a declining oak in Northeast France, and from the rhizosphere of Phragmites australis at Lake Constance in south-west Germany in 1998 and 2004, respectively. We describe this species, previously informally designated Phytophthora taxon ‘G’, as Phytophthora gallica sp. nov. Morphology, growth rates, and pathogenicity against cuttings of riparian tree species and leaves of reed are described and compared with those of morphologically and phylogenetically similar Phytophthora species. P. gallica produces colonies with limited aerial mycelium and variable growth patterns. Gametangia are not formed in single or mixed cultures with tester strains of known mating types. P. gallica produces globose and elongated irregular chlamydospores, of which a high proportion is abortive. In water culture irregular hyphal swellings and non-papillate persistent sporangia are formed abundantly. P. gallica is moderately aggressive to Alnus glutinosa and Fagus sylvatica, weakly aggressive to Quercus robur and Salix alba and non-pathogenic to Fraxinus excelsior and Phragmites australis. According to ITS and mtDNA sequence data P. gallica belongs to a distinct Phytophthora clade, with P. boehmeriae and P. kernoviae being the closest relatives. The origin of P. gallica and its ecological role in wet ecosystems remain unclear.

During a study on the occurrence and pathogenicity of oomycetes in the reed-belt (Phragmites australis) of Lake Constance (Germany), a new Pythium resembling the important cereal pathogen species complex P. arrhenomanes/P. graminicola was consistently isolated from necrotic mature reed leaves and reed rhizosphere samples. The new species proved to be significantly more aggressive towards reed leaves and seedlings in vitro than related species. It is characterised by filamentous, inflated sporangia and plerotic oospores with usually more than one antheridium. ITS and cox II sequence data indicate this new species shares a common ancestor with P. arrhenomanes, but the sequence differences are clearly consistent with a divergence of the two taxa and with P. phragmitis being a distinct species. ITS 1 and 2 of 15 isolates of the taxon consistently differed from P. arrhenomanes by 13 positions. Sequence analyses of the cox II gene confirmed the new species' phylogenetic position. This paper gives a formal description of the taxon as P. phragmitis sp. nov., providing information on morphology, ecology and pathogenicity in comparison to related species. As indicated by the close association to Phragmites australis, the high aggressiveness towards reed leaves and seedlings, and the abundance in the investigated stands, Pythium phragmitis might act as a reed pathogen of considerable importance, in particular under flooding situations.